TITLE: Soulful Rehabilitation. (1/1)

SEQUEL TO: Soulful Vengeance

AUTHOR: Susie; susanne@zoom.co.uk

DISCLAIMER: None are mine, they all belong to Joss, I am just toying with them!

DISTRIBUTION: My site I am evil hear me roar! http://evilroaring.cjb.net

Anyone else ask me first! Oh Vampie and Tellie can have it if they want!

SPOILERS: Season one of Angel. I changed the ending!

RATING: PG

SUMMARY: Angel has to deal with the consequences of his ‘soulful vengeance’

DEDICATION: To Vampie, cos it was inspired after reading her fic ‘Fallen Childe’ which you all should read, not cos
it’s relevant to this fic just cos it’s good!!

NOTE: ~ ~ denotes a dream state vision type thing. Read it you’ll get it…hopefully!

SOULFUL REHABILITATION

~ Coldness. Death. Blackness. Void. Angelus roared with laughter as he delivered another blow to the brunette man on
the pavement. Willow watched in horror as the man looked up and her green eyes met the chocolate brown ones of Angel.
"Angel" She whispered it as more of a prayer than anything else. ~

Angel moved to her side as she softly called out his name. He stroked her hand trying desperately to warm her up, to
make her live again. His soul cried out at what it had allowed him to do, and his demon roared for more.

Through the fog of her memory Willow remembered fangs entering her neck and her sweet life force being drained away.
She was helpless, she was alone, she was dying. Then faint murmurings caught her ear.

"Please, please don’t let her die. Please. Not another one, not any more. Too many people have died because of me.
Please let her live."

She felt cold fingers around her slightly warm hand and she felt her body gradually absorbing the heat from the duvet over
her. Blinking tentatively she opened her eyes. She was in a darkened room, in a huge bed and by her side weeping
slightly was her saviour.

"Angel?" She croaked out again. He looked up; she met his chocolate eyes and recognised them instantly as his and not
Angelus’

"Oh God, Willow you’re alive." His fingers tightened around hers as he sniffed back a few more tears and smiled at her.

"Am I dead?" She questioned.

"No. You’re heart is beating. It’s getting stronger."

"You prayed for me?"

"You heard?" He looked a little sheepish. Willow only nodded. "I couldn’t let another innocent person die because of
me. I couldn’t."

"You saved me Angel. It wasn’t your teeth in my neck."

"It may well of been. He was winning you know?"

"He is a part of you Angel." She replied knowing that he was referring to Angelus. "He always will be."

"He was delighting in the pain he was causing me."

"But you won. Angelus lost. I saw it in you eyes in the street."

"I was going to let you die Willow. I couldn’t let myself care anymore."

"But you did." Slowly she pulled herself up so she was sitting. Angel reached around her and moved the pillows so she
could lean back against them. Smiling her thanks she continued. "You were stronger Angel. You won it was touch and go
I admit but you won."

"I…I can’t do it any more." He hung his head slightly. "They…Cordelia and Wesley died because of me."

"Angel." She placed her hands under his chin so he had to look at her. "I’m so sorry about Cordy and Wesley. They were
my friends too, I miss them. It’s hard sometimes but you have to move on with your life." She smiled at him.

"But it was all my fault. It was my redemption they were fighting for and I got them killed."

"No." She looked sharply at him. "They died fighting for what they believed in. Don’t you see that?" He lowered his
head. "Angel you know that they wouldn’t have stayed if they didn’t want to."

"But look what I did." He almost whispered.

"I am looking." She smiled. "You saved me."

"But…"

"But nothing."

He looked up at her, a tear trickling down his cheek. "I…I can’t do it anymore."

"Do what? Help people? Angel you never stopped." Gently she wiped his tear away. "Your methods kinda changed for a
minute there, but you never stopped helping people." He just looked at her. "Ok." She sighed, wincing as she tried to
move her neck. "How many humans did you kill just recently?"

He blinked at her and swallowed hard. "None."

"How many evil demon things?"

"Too many."

She squeezed his hand. "There you go. Lots of bad things dead, no good things."

"But I did it ruthlessly. I went out looking for them." He tried to argue.

"Yeah so? In that case you stopped them before they could hurt any more innocent people." Smiling at him she continued.
"Angel it’s going to be ok."

He sighed. "What do I do now?"

"Well, you could try getting the business back up and running."

"I can’t."

"Why? ‘Cos Cordy and Wes aren’t here? Do you think they wouldn’t want you to continue with your redemption?" He
shook his head. "Well then, lets get started. I’m your new assistant." She paused and smiled at him, "that is if you’ll have
me?"

"Willow you…"

"Kill a mean demon." She smiled, finishing the sentence she knew he wasn’t going to say. "I know Angel. I’ll be such an
asset to you team." She held her hand up to silence him as he began to protest. "No ifs or buts mister. I’m here for good.
You need me more than Sunnydale does."

"Ok." He agreed reluctantly silently overwhelmed by her friendship and love. He watched as a slow smile spread over
her lips. "What?" He asked dubiously.

"I know the perfect person who can help us. He’ll love it. All those demons to kill." She looked at him, her big green
eyes meeting his dark ones.

"Oh please don’t say…"

"Spike!" She exclaimed as she hugged him smiling against his shoulder. "Everything will work out Angel you’ll see." She
felt his arms go around her waist and his chin settle on her shoulder.

"I’ve no doubt my Willow." He murmured.

THE END
 

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